Trump Recognizes Venezuelan Opposition Leader as ‘Interim President’

Update 3:28p.m.: Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro announced Wednesday that he will cut off diplomatic relations with the U.S. in response to President Trump’s recognition of Juan Gaido, the president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, as interim president of the country. President Trump on Wednesday declared Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro illegitimate and officially recognized Juan Gaido, the president of the Venezuelan National Assembly and a vehement critic of Maduro’s government, as the country’s interim president.